Champagne-tap



(No Model.)

A. W. MESTON.

CHAMPAGNE TAP.

Patented Apr. 15,1890.

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UNITED STATES ATnNT einen@ ALEXANDER IV. MESTON, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

CHAM PAG N E-TAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters atent No. 425,480, dated April 15, 1890.

Application filed Tune 17, 1889. Serial No. 314,574. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, ALEXANDER W. Mns TON, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Champagne-Taps; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of thesame.

My invention relates to iinprovemel'its in taps, by means of which efervescent liquids, and especially champagne, contained in botdes can be drawn therefrom without removing the cork, and the bottle opened or closed at will, enabling portions of the liquid to be drawn at different times Without wasting or spoiling the remainder. This tap belongs to the class which have a hollow screw to be insorted into and through the cork of the bottle and a means for opening and closing the oriiice in said screw 5 and the object of my invention is to so arrange the opening in the screw and the means for closing the same that while the screw is passing through the cork there will be no possibility of the opening being stopped or clogged by particles of the cork, another object being to have the pressure of the gases in the bottle tend to close or keep closed the said opening, and to provide improved mechanism for operating' said tap. I attain these objects by the mechanism and devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings. wherein Figure lis alongitudinal section of a modiiied form of tap embodying the same advantages; and Fig. 2 is an elevation view, partly in section, of the saine.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in both figures.

Referring to Figs. l and 2, the hollow screw a, which constitutes the main feature of the tap, is bored out at the enlarged end to form the chamber B, in which the eccentric cam O operates to open and close the opening of the tap, as hereinafter specied. At the lower or small extremity of the screw A is formed the annular tapering seat G, into which the point H fits, forming a valve. The wire I is attached to the point II and extends up through the hole J, which is, however, enough larger than the wire I to admit of the passage of the liquid.

The upper or enlarged portion of hollow screw A, where chamber B is located, is provided with handles L I., one of which is hollow and commun icates with chamber B, which contains eccentric cam O.

The valve `formed by the point IfI and seat G is operated by means of the thumb-piece M, rod N, and eccentric cam O as follows: The thumb-piece M and eccentric cam O are both rigidly attached to the rod N, which passes through one of the handles L. The upper end of the wire I is bent to form a loop around the cam O, the periphery of which is grooved for the reception of the said wire. The rod N is retained in place in the handle L by the pin P, working in a seniicireular groove or slot cutin the handle L. The pin P also serves as a stop for the rod N and its adj uncts when the valve II G is closed or fully opened. It will be understood from the above that a semi-revolution of the rod N and cam O will cause the wire I and point- H to move longitudinally either in one direction or the other, opening or closing the valve formed by the point II and the annular seat G. The spout Q. is fastened, as shown, into the upper end of the screw A,having no function in operating the valve, but serving merely -as a 'suit-able aperture for the exit of the liquid. I prefer to crimp or bend the Wire I, as shown in Fig. l, which will allow it to eX- tend slightly in length when pulling the pointv Il against the seat G. This insures a freer working of the parts and a certain closing of the valve, compensating for any wear of the rod N and cam 0. The rod N is passed through the handle L as a mere matter of convenience, as it may beinserted at right angles to the handles or at any other suitable point. By reason of the tapering form of the annular seat G the point II acquires great rigidity when closed, enabling it to withstand the strains to which it is necessarily subjected in passing through the cork.

The thread on the screw A may be dispensed with, leaving a smooth hollow tube to be forced through the cork; but for obvious reasons the threaded screw is preferable.

I am aware that taps for the same purpose as this herein described have been devised, and I have no intention of broadly claiming IOO . such form of article; but all these, of my knowledge, have certain disadvantages, either ofoperation or construction, which are obviated by the improvements herein set forth, which improvements I claim and wish to secure by Letters Patent.

Having fully explained and described the objects, operation, and means employed in said improvements, I claim as my inventionl. In a champagne-tap, the combination, with a hollow tube, of a movable point having its seat on the end of the hollow tube, a wire attached to the point and having at one end a yoke or loop, and a cam engaging the loop for operating the movable point by means of the wire, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In combination with a hollow screw, a spout, a movable tapering point, a tapering annular seat at the end of the screw, said point iitting into said seat and forming therewith a Valve, a cam, cam-rod, and thumbpiece carried by the screw, and a looped wire connecting said point with said cam, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. In combination with a hollow screw, a movable tapering point, a tapering1 annular seat at the end of the screw, said point fitting into said seat and forming therewith a valve, a cam, a cam rod, and thumb-piece carried by the screw, a looped wire connecting said point with said cam, and means whereby said screw may be turned, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4. In combination with a hollow tube, a movable tapering-point, a tapering annular seat at the vend of the tube, said point fitting into said seat and forming therewith a valve, a cam, cam-rod, and thumb-piece carried by the tube, and a looped wire connecting said point with said cam, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. In combination with a hollow screw provided with handles, a spout, a movable taseat and forming therewith a valve, a cam, cam-rod, and thumb-piece carried by the screw, and a looped wire connecting said point with said cam, substantially as and for 5o the purposes specified.

.6. In combination with a hollow screw, a movable tapering point, a tapering annular seat at the end of the screw, said point fitting into said seat and forming therewith a valve, a crimped or bent wire attached to said point, and means for opening and closing said valve by means of said wire, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

7. In combination with a hollow tube, a movable tapering point, a tapering annular seat at the end of the tube, said point fitting into said seat and forming therewith a valve, a crimped or bent wire attached to said point, and means for opening and closing said valve by means of said wire, substantially asvand for the purposes specified.

8. In a champagne-tap, the combination of a tube having a valve-seat on one end, a valve adapted to close said tube, a wire rod connected with said valve and crimped or bent to allow of longitudinal extension, and means for opening and closing said valve by means of said wire, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

9. In combination with ahollow screw provided with handles, aspout, a movable tapering point, a tapering annular seat at the end of the screw, said point fitting into said seat and forming therewith a valve, a cam, camrod, and thumb-piece carried by the screw, a looped wire connecting said point with said cam, said wire crimped or bent to allow of its longitudinal extension, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALEXANDER W. MESTON.

XVitnesses:

WM. MORGAN, W. H. Bnrr'roN. 

